Ruthie Blum Archives

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Ruthie BlumAugust 9, 2022

Identifying with the invisible residents of southern Israel

The government in Jerusalem constantly calls for unity. What might help in this virtually impossible endeavor would be a heavy dose of empathy for those bearing the brunt of the enemy’s will—and repeated attempts—to annihilate the entire Jewish state.

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Ruthie BlumAugust 7, 2022

Avoiding mention of Iran while urging Israeli restraint

The facts of “Operation Breaking Dawn” don’t make the slightest difference to the moral-equivalence choir hot to return to the JCPOA.

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Ruthie BlumJuly 31, 2022

A tale of two women targeted by ‘dishonored’ ex-husbands

An honest conversation has to be had about the psychology and cultural norms that lead so many victims of abuse to become obstacles to, as opposed to participants in, their rescue.

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Ruthie BlumJuly 26, 2022

Bennett’s bad precedent and the curse of Israel’s small parties

Despite this past year’s failed “experiment” in coalition-building and governance, the same people are at it again, reciting tired mantras about the need to “keep Bibi out of Balfour.”

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Ruthie BlumJuly 19, 2022

What constitutes a ‘last resort’?

The clock is ticking, possibly past the point of no return. If the regime in Tehran is to be believed, the sand has already filled the bottom of the hourglass.

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Ruthie BlumJuly 17, 2022

The disgraceful disruption of the Abraham Accords

Israel’s Muslim-Arab neighbors in the Gulf have been given reason to be nervous about putting their faith in a U.S.-led, anti-Iran coalition with Israel at the forefront.

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Ruthie BlumJuly 12, 2022

Does Joe Biden’s sojourn signal a return to the ‘old’ Middle East?

The leader of the free world described the JCPOA as “a nuclear deal that was working,” and bemoaned that America under Trump “found itself isolated and alone” for condemning Iranian nuclear activity. Let that sink in.

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Ruthie BlumJuly 10, 2022

Honoring Joe Biden, dishonoring Taylor Force

That the U.S. president who reversed the freeze on American aid to the “pay for slay” Palestinian Authority is receiving Israel’s Presidential Medal is worse than ironic.

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Ruthie BlumJuly 5, 2022

Biden’s appalling message of ‘principled patriotism’

In his Fourth of July address, the U.S. president alluded to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, boasted about gun-control legislation and issued a “reminder that we remain in an ongoing battle for the soul of America.”

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Ruthie BlumJuly 3, 2022

Yair Lapid’s attempt to appeal to the majority

In his maiden speech as interim prime minister, the Yesh Atid leader said that “most Israelis agree on the ‘truly important topics.’” Ironically, the people to whom he was referring are to the right of his party, and the left won’t tolerate any pandering to them.

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Ruthie BlumJune 28, 2022

Bolstering Bibi by deriding his backers

Former Israeli TV anchor Gadi Sukenik’s critique was clear: Anyone casting a ballot for Likud belongs in the baboon category.

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Ruthie BlumJune 26, 2022

Let UNRWA die already

The demise of the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees is long overdue. Let’s hope that Commissioner-General Lazzarini is right to be worried.

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Ruthie BlumJune 21, 2022

The fall of the Israeli government and the upcoming election

The only way around another political impasse, other than an overhaul of the electoral system, is for all eligible citizens to cast a ballot. This means curbing the purism and joining, not hovering above, the fray.

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Ruthie BlumJune 19, 2022

Israelis, get out of Turkey right now!

Being in the crosshairs of Iranian assassins should be more than sufficient cause to cut short a vacation in Istanbul.

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Ruthie BlumJune 14, 2022

Reactionary ‘progressives’ strike again

Has anybody actually read the falsely dubbed “Don’t say gay” DeSantis bill?